Dear Valued Patient:

This letter is authored in response to national news reports of an outbreak of meningitis related to the provision of epidural steroid injections for the treatment of spinal pain. This tragic outbreak is isolated to injections performed utilizing several lots of methylprednisolone acetate solution purchased from a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts. At The Institute for Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, our pain management physician does not use medications for spinal injection procedures from the compounding pharmacy in question, or from any other similar company. We utilize only medications from pharmaceutical manufacturers whose facilities are licensed and rigorously inspected by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Epidural injections were first performed in the early 1930’s. Specifically steroid injections into the epidural space for the management of spinal pain from a variety of causes have been in continuous use since 1960. In over 50 years, many tens of millions of injections have been performed safely, providing immeasurable relief for untold numbers of people suffering with back and neck pain. Time and experience have shown us that these injections are a safe and effective treatment and an integral part of the non-operative management of spinal pain.

At The Institute for Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our patients. We sincerely appreciate the confidence you place in us and look forward to serving your orthopaedic and pain management needs.

We will continue to keep you informed of new developments as necessary and please contact us if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Richard Hood, MD